[1] Set in Cuba during Fulgencio Batista's reign as dictator, the novel follows the intersecting lives of several families of white American expatriates, the men of which work for the United Fruit Company.

Stites, the son of the CEO, with the encouragement of his mother, grows close with Everly Lederer, the daughter of a man who was considered weak and ineffectual back home.

His best friend is from the Allain family whom the Stites consider hillbillys and who is rumoured to have killed a man back in America.

After a bomb goes off in the United Fruit Company's prestigious club, the white Americans are forced to evacuate by their government.

[2] In September/October 2008 issue of Bookmarks, the book received 4 out of 5 stars, with the critical summary saying, "But overall, Kushner’s magnificent debut re-creates a lost world and era".